What are the requirements for retiring in Thailand, particularly regarding bank accounts and property ownership?

Why would you retire where you've not been? Is this a joke?

Once you bring the dog to Thailand, its hard to get dog out of Thailand. Many countries don't really want you to bring your dog back. There is a lot to get done, just to bring dog to Thailand. Special form, special shots, universal chip, not just regular one. Many condos will not rent with pets. Or the rent is almost double because of pet. But most condos do not allow pets at all.

Okay, if you are serious about this permanent move to Thailand, take it in steps, and this is a little more detailed to what everyone has said so far. First, set up separate bank accounts in Australia for both you and your wife in each of your names, with at least the equivalent of bt800,000+ each, not a joint account, this makes some future details much easier. For your next trip here go onto this website, and apply for the type O visa based on retirement, and each of you do this so you each have separate visas, and why you need two bank accounts. This gives you each 90 days in Thailand when you enter. You've got 90 days to use it once it is issued, and is bt2000. That this gives both of you is the needed expat visas to open your Thai bank accounts without having to use an expensive agent to do it. Sure you could come in on a visa exempt 60 day free entry, but you can not get a Thai bank account on any tourist entry anymore by yourself, and in the future you will both need your own type O visa extension (one year at a time), so you both need your own bank accounts to do that, as not every immigration office allows joint accounts for both your retirement visa extensions. Also, it gives you the ability to use electronic payments here with no problem on your first vacation. When you decide where you actually want to live, and long term, your Thai bank accounts will have been taken care of, as they do not disappear, and you can get another type O visa for the initial 90 days living here, and the time to get your money transferred into Thailand for your long term visa extensions. This is the easiest long term visa extension to get. As soon as your bt800,000 baht has been in your accounts for at least two months, you can apply for your one year extensions, at bt1900 each.



Foreigners can not own land. You can only lease it, for upto 30 years. You can own condos though. Bangkok is very good to base out of. Best medical is in Bangkok. Best food selection is in Bangkok. And, you can go most anywhere in South East Asia and all of Thailand, in just a few hours. It is very nice living here. Also, make sure you have your health insurance worked out here, as the older you get the less choices you have. Private hospitals are the most expensive, as they are for profit. The government, and university hospitals are top quality, and about as expensive. Don't be fooled by promotions by some of the private hospitals, all doctors speak English.

Chaing Mai

Look closely at the regulations that apply to your dog’s expatriation. It’s a bit of a process.

Consider all the possible pitfalls of bringing a dog to Thailand before doing so .It is more than likely a one way ticket

3 years is a long time in the world of Visa Validity... it's a lucky dip on rules at each city/province. What may be applicable today is often unlikely to be valid closer to your time of move. By all means, do your homework and become informed (both of you).

My wife and I (both now retired, I am 73) have owned our condo in Thailand for ten years (freehold under conditions set out in Condominium Act). We have not "lived" there... more like lengthy holidays. That said, we're considering applying for the retirement visa which I understand requires 800k baht to be held in Thai bank account.

There is a lot to learn about Thailand, about Thai bureaucracy, and about how business gets done.

My advice?

Start your research early.

Visit often and spend time in different locations.

Pay for reputable advice/agents when you must.

Only commit large sums of money after thorough research and lengthy "in country" experience.

Some cautions:

Yes, Chang Mai has terrible pollution for months every year.

Yes, Thailand has the highest per Capita road fatalities in the world ...almost all of them are pedestrians and motor cyclists.

Yes the Andaman coast has cleaner water for swimming/snorkelling than the Gulf coast.

Yes, the Thai language is difficult to learn. I have not succeeded but Google Translate goes a long way.

Yes we absolutely love our Thai condo (it's in a regional area with few tourists and little English spoken), but we're planning to sell and in hindsight would not have bought in the first place We reckon long term rentals would have better suited our lifestyle.

Yes Thailand is a good retirement destination. The food is superb. But take the time to find THE "Thailand" that best suits you.

All the best

Simple answer is generally you can own a house, but you can’t own the land it’s sitting on. It’s messy.

Did you know about the three months of bad bad pollution every year in Chang Mai ?

Mate, definitely come over and do some trips first. Get a feel for the different areas.

Don't come with pre- conceived ideas.

Start learning some Thai words as soon as possible.

It's not a perfect place to live, but it is far ahead of Australia for livability at this point.

You can own a condo freehold, but if you want a house and a yard, garden etc... then yes it's either renting, or enter into somewhat murky and risky, shelf company arrangement which I don't recommend.